3 days ago
Maggie Collett will pilot her first runner as dual-license holder at Morphettville Parks on Saturday
Maggie Collett is tackling life as a senior jockey head on, as she prepares to pilot her first runner as a dual-license holder at Morphettville Parks on Saturday.
Collett, 27, finished her apprenticeship in July, before nailing her first winner as a senior hoop aboard Liselle's Luck at Murray Bridge earlier this month.
After 139 winners across 5½ years, Collett will open another chapter in her career on Saturday, when she steers Just Like Lisa in a Benchmark 72 (1250m) – her first runner as a trainer under a new dual license.
It may be a new look on an official front, but Collett has had plenty of influence on the eight-year-old mare's career thus far, steering her to four of seven wins under trainer Justin Pickering, Collett's partner.
'I've kind of always had it in the back of my mind that at the end of my time I wanted to pursue training,' Collett, who has four rides at Morphettville on Saturday, said.
'I've got a big farm here and I've always had a lot to say with 'Pickles' (Pickering), we kind of mutually agree on most things, it is just kind of a natural progression with me to take out my dual license.'
Just Like Lisa rattles home to win the last for Justin Pickering 🚂
— (@Racing) January 27, 2024
Collett notched 28 winners across the 2024-25 season, following a strong '23-24 that saw her score 43 winners at a 10.2 per cent strike rate.
Life in the saddle isn't set to slow down either, Collett is eager to kick on as a fully fledged jockey, joining fellow dual-license holders Jessica Tzaferis and Stephanie Lacy in the training ranks.
'I'm really enjoying riding at the moment, whether that be in town or Port Augusta, I'm really enjoying it and I want to keep riding,' she said.
'It's business as normal, I'm still planning on riding for as long as I want, once I finish that I'll probably go into partnership with Pickles, in the meantime, I'm still really keen to keep riding.
'At the moment I've just got Just Like Lisa, next month I'll have one more and I might have three altogether, but I'll probably only have two in work.
'I want to focus on my riding and muck around with one or two in work and see how that goes.'
A daughter of Choisir, Just Like Lisa has earnt $262,000 across 50 starts, and resumes on Saturday's nine-race card after a freshen up.
The mare is currently a $61 chance with Sportsbet.
'I'm really excited leading into Saturday, there's not really much pressure on her,' Collett said.
'They are probably going to be too sharp over 1200m for her but she needs to have a run, she's feeling really well, I've got a plan in mind going forward.
'There's no pressure, she's drawn really well, I'm just excited to have a runner there.'
